Topic: Foxconn

After possibly receiving some pressure by the Chinese government about remaining in the country and not expanding in the U.S., Foxconn is seeking land to build a prototype facility to assist Apple in developing hardware prototypes in Shenzhen, and figuring out how to manufacture them at scale.

Three of Apple's key suppliers -- Foxconn and its subsidiary Sharp, as well as chipmaker TSMC -- have all expressed interest in taking advantage of business-friendly incentives proposed by incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, though no commitments have been made.

Foxconn, Apple's main assembly partner, on Tuesday declared its first-ever annual sales decline since going public in 1991, something reportedly linked to weak demand from Apple prior to the arrival of the iPhone 7.

Foxconn-owned Sharp is reportedly planning to invest 100 billion yen, or about $864 million U.S., into setting up an OLED production line, amidst expectations that Apple's "iPhone 8" will switch from LCD display technology to OLED.

Apple's main manufacturing partner, Foxconn, is planning to eliminate human workers from its Chinese factories in three phases -- something already complete at some locations, a manager with Foxconn's Automation Technology Development Committee revealed on Friday.

Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory -- where about half of all Apple's iPhones are made -- exists in large part because of billions of dollars in handouts and tax breaks from the Chinese government, a report pointed out on Thursday.

Recent reports from the supply chain claim that frequent rumor target Wistron, the builder of the iPhone 5c and SE, has seized at least some future orders from Apple for future iPhone models -- but what it will actually be tapped for is unclear.

Apple is turning to manufacturing partner Foxconn to facilitate efforts to expand both research centers and business further into Southeast Asia, and open up facilities in China and Indonesia, according to recent reports.

Apple's primary assembly partner, Foxconn, will soon invest in expanding its U.S. operations, the latter company said on Wednesday, apparently following in the steps of a similar SoftBank announcement.

Primary iPhone assemblers Foxconn and Pegatron are said to have been evaluating the ability of the company to shift production of Apple's mobile devices to the U.S., with the verdict mixed on if the move would be cost-effective.

On Monday Apple's primary manufacturing partner, Foxconn, disclosed the deaths of two workers from its Apple-oriented Zhengzhou factory, though there don't appear to be any immediate links to conditions at the plant. [Updated]

Foxconn continues to post disappointing earnings reports in 2016, with analysts pointing to the decrease in iPhone orders as the prime culprit -- but the actual reason isn't clear, according to the company.